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October 1, 2017

Rajasthan in five worst states on infant mortality

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Rajasthan is among the worst states in the country when it comes to survival of a newborn baby, reveals Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin 2016. The report issued by the center shows that 41 infants out of per 1,000 live births in Rajasthan died in 2016 within one year of their birth. It is worst among the poorer states like Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Though, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Rajasthan, has been improved slightly by 2 points, yet the state is among the top five states in the country with highest IMR.As per the SRS bulletin 2016, IMR in Rajasthan remained at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016 which is far more than the national IMR of 34 per 1,000 live births. In fact, Rajasthan lags behind poorer states including Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhatisgarh where IMR in 2016 remained at 29, 38 and 39 respectively.Among the 10 least developed states (as per Raghuram Rajan Panel), Rajasthan stands fifth from the top in IMR list only after Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Uttar Pradesh with IMR of 47, 44, 44 and 43 per thousand live births respectively. Other least developed states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya also have a better IMR of 36 and 39 than Rajasthan. Rajasthan, in bigger states, also lags behind West Bengal where IMR in 2016 remained at 25.Figures of IMR also indicate towards a large gap in distribution of medical and healthcare services between urban and rural Rajasthan. SRS bulletin 2016 shows that IMR in rural areas is 45, which is almost 50 per cent more than the IMR in urban areas.However, top officials of the state’s health department said that the government is committed to cutting the IMR of Rajasthan to as low as 24.NOS AT A GLANCERajasthan stands fifth in the IMR list after Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Uttar Pradesh with IMR of 47, 44, 44 and 43 per thousand live births respectively. Rajasthan has 41 deaths per 1,000 live births